College of GPs’ Equity Award recognises ongoing action to improve health access, experience, and outcomes

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) has awarded Professor Bev Lawton with its inaugural Equity Award, 'Te Kārohirohi' at its annual Fellowship and Awards Ceremony in Auckland on Saturday 1 August.

The Equity Award acknowledges the efforts of a College member who consistently and exceptionally demonstrates leadership and commitment to advancing health equity in general practice, primary care or rural hospital medicine, particularly for Māori and other priority groups in Aotearoa New Zealand. The award honours demonstrated, measurable and sustained action that improves equity in primary care health access, experience, and outcomes.

College President Dr Luke Bradford says, “Achieving health equity requires more than good intentions, it requires leadership, courage, and sustained action. Our Equity Award was created to recognise those who challenge inequities, advocate for underserved communities, and work to ensure every person can access the care they need. Professor Lawton has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating a fairer and more equitable health system and her work is helping to shape a better future for New Zealanders. She is a truly deserving inaugural recipient of this award.”

Professor Bev Lawton | Wellington

Professor Bev Lawton (Ngāti Porou) has made an extraordinary contribution to advancing health equity in Aotearoa through her leadership in research, clinical practice, and policy. As founder and director of Te Tātai Hauora o Hine, she has led transformative work in women’s health, rural health, and hauora Māori, ensuring that research is grounded in community partnership and delivers real-world change.

Her research has exposed inequities and directly informed national policy, most notably through the introduction of HPV self-testing, which has significantly increased cervical screening rates - particularly for Māori and Pacific women. She has also led innovative work to improve access to diagnostics and care in rural communities, reducing long-standing barriers to timely treatment.

Through kaupapa Māori research, strong partnerships with iwi, and a focus on translational impact, Professor Lawton has reshaped how health services are designed and delivered. Her work exemplifies equity in action, improving outcomes for wāhine, tamariki, and whānau across Aotearoa, also recognised by her receiving the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Award in 2025.

You can find the full list of the 2026 award recipients on the College website: Awards | RNZCGP